An infant and man and woman from Shipshewana, Ind., were injured Thursday afternoon when their horse buggy was rear-ended by a car near Sturgis, authorities said.MLive file photo

STURGIS, MI – An infant and man and woman from Shipshewana, Ind., were ejected from their horse buggy Thursday afternoon in a crash near Sturgis, authorities said.

The buggy’s driver, Lavon Knepp, 30, and the infant suffered minor injuries in the 3:30 p.m. crash on Fawn River Road, west of South Centreville Road in Sturgis Township, according to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office.

However, deputies said Ester Knepp, 30, suffered serious injuries. All three occupants of the buggy were taken to Sturgis Hospital for treatment.

Deputies said the crash occurred when an eastbound Chrysler station wagon driven by Nicholas Conner, 28, of Sturgis, struck the horse and buggy in its rear end.

Conner did not see the buggy prior to the collision, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Conner was issued a citation at the scene for careless driving, deputies said.

Investigators said alcohol and speed were not factors in the crash, according to the news release.

Rex Hall Jr. is a public safety reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. You can reach him at rhall2@mlive.com. Follow him on Twitter.